fibrous

adjective

fi·​brous ˈfī-brəs 

1

a

: containing, consisting of, or resembling fibers

b

: characterized by fibrosis

c

: capable of being separated into fibers

a fibrous mineral

2

: tough, sinewy

fibrous texture

Synonyms

• stringy

Examples of fibrous in a Sentence

He had surgery to remove fibrous scar tissue in his knee.

thick, fibrous hair that was not easy to comb

Recent Examples on the Web

Called 'molecular breast imaging,' researchers at Mayo Clinic found the combination method increased the ability to find cancer in the fibrous and glandular tissue type by more than double. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

Dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous tissue, and less fatty breast tissue. —Jennie Durant, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025

Your hair may feel rigid, wiry, or fibrous. —Maggie Donahue, Health, 27 Sep. 2025

Reindeer moss, used as a mulch for containerized plants, is a fibrous chartreuse lichen grazed by caribou and reindeer in Arctic lands. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

modification of Middle French fibreux, from fibre fiber

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fibrous

• fibrous root

Kids Definition

fibrous

adjective

fi·​brous ˈfī-brəs 

1

: containing, consisting of, or resembling fibers

2

: tough entry 1 sense 1b, stringy

Medical Definition

fibrous

adjective

fi·​brous ˈfī-brəs 

1

: containing, consisting of, or resembling fibers

collagen is a fibrous protein

2

: characterized by fibrosis